Marking pen



March 5, 1946. K. RATH MARKING PEN Filed June 23, 1944 IN VEN TOR.

Z flu fication and wherei of the invention;

views illustrati sure a continuous and like. Mounted within and removable manne Patented Mar. 5, 1946 Karl Rath. New York. Patents Corporation, ration of New York Y.. asslgnor to Radio New York, N. Y., a corpo- Application June 23, 1944, serial No. 541,783 8 Claims. (01.120-43) My invention relates to writing appliances and more particularly to a lettering brush or marking pen for use in stores, oflices, schools, shipping I houses, etc., for addressing envelopes, cases, cartons or the like, for lettering or making'designs on posters, signs, price tags, and for various other uses.

An object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which is both simple-and cheap to make; which does not deteriorate in use and has a practically unlimited life; which is free from smud'ging, clogging and other defects of similar devices known in the art; which insures a continuous and uniform flow and discharge of writing fluid; which can be easily refllled;' and which can be readily adapted for difierent shapes and sizes to suit the personal desire and existing requirements.

These and further objects of my invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in reference to the accompanying drawing forming 'part of this speciand shape to be used interchangeably to suit the personal desire and special requirements.

A gasket M of rubbe or the like interposed be- I tween a shoulder orjoifset of the rod H and the the art..

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a marking pen embodying the principles Figure 2 is a cross-section similar to Figure 1, showing a modification of the invention; and

Figures 3 and 4 are fra ng a further modification of-the invention.

Like reference numerals identify like the different views of the drawing.

With the aforementioned objects in view, the invention in one of its embodiments involves the provision of a. rigid porous member or rod projecting from the inside to the outside of an ink-- holding barrel of suitable size and shape to fit the hand, the projecting end of said rod forming a writing head or tip and the inside portion serving to absorb suiiicient amount of ink to be carried to said head by capillary action through the pores in said rod, in such a-manneras to inuniform flow of writing fluid to the discharge end of said tip.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, Figure 1, the numeral l0 represents an oblong con- I tainer or barrel-shaped holder consisting of any suitable material such as metal or a synthetic composition matteria parts in the barrel It) in liquid-tight r is a concentric cylindrical porous member or rod ll of ceramic or equivalent material terminating in a head or writingtip lI: projecting from the lower end of the barrel Feeding rod H, in the example illustrated, 1s provided with a screw thread I3 engaging a simill'ar igternal thread in the lower end of the barrel gmentary front and side I barrel l0 serves to provide a liquid-tight seal or joint to prevent writing fluid in the barrel from leaking through at this point.

The writing tip I2, which in-the example shown has a tapering o frusto-conical shape of circular or any other cross-section, is provided with an impervious coating l5 of lacquer, varnish or.the like extending to a certain point from its apex or discharge area to prevent leaking of writing fluid from the upper. cone surface and to limit the feeding of fluid to the lower or discharge end of the tip I2 which 'is in contact with th writing surface during the use of the device. Alternatively, the protective surface l5 may be produced by glazing the outer ceramic surface of the ,tip l2 in accordance wit The upper end of the barrel III is closed by a screw-on cap .l6 and gasket I! or in any other suitable manner for introducing a writing fluid such as a highly fluid and quick drying ink indlcated at 26.

By the proper choice of the material of the rod H having a suitable porosity in relation to the characteristics of. the Writing fluid used, the latter will be readily absorbed by and carried through the pores or interstices of the rod II by capillary action to the tip l2. a to insure a sufficient supply and continuous flow of fluid at the discharge end to enablethe tracing of a continuous line at an average writing speed. a

Porous ceramic or other materials useful for the purpose of the invention are available on the market and can be easily produced by mixing a -been moulded in final shape. By the proper 1 such as Bakelite or the choice of the initial particle size and the amount of filler used, a desired degree of porosity by the open spaces or interstices formerly occupied by the wax or other filler may be obtained in such a manner as to insure a uniform and continuous feed of writing fluid of given fluidity or viscosity. The writing fluid or ink used is preferably of the highly fluid or quick drying type which not only will afford an instantaneous drying but i will prevent clogging or smudging and other defects experienced with pens or writing appliances of this type.

ereby to enable writing tips of different size One ofthe main advantages of a marking pen of the type described i due to the fact that the writing head or tip consisting of substantially rigid though porous material is substantially free from weal. Q deterioration whereby to maintain well known processes in in such a manner especially suited for invention as is readily understood.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a modified form of a marking pen in accordance with the invention. According to this modification, the

barrel 20 and writing tip 22 form a single integral unit made of moulded porous ceramic or other material. If desirable, a concentric reentrant stem 2! may be provided also moulded integrally with the barrel 2!! and writing tip 22, to increase the absorption or amount of fluid fed to the discharge end 24 of the tip 22. However, the stem 2| may be omitted by using a suitable writing fluid and a material of proper porosity.

There is furthermore shown in Figure 2 a simple removable plug of rubber or thelike liquidtightly closing the upper end of thebarrel 20.

In the case of Figure 2, the outer surface of the barrel 20 is coated with a protective layer 23 produced by a glazing processor the like, to prevent the ink from reaching the outer surface and to feed it only to the discharge end 24 of the tip l2 in a manner well understood.

The shape and size of the writing tip may vary in any desired manner and as shown in the construction according to Figure 1, different tips may be interchangeably connected to the barrel to suit the personal desire or special requirements. Thus. in Figures 3 and 4 there is shown a flattened tip I2 terminating in a narrow line-shaped dischar e surface. 21 for use in connection withround or similar script.

Other shapes and designs of the discharge tip or configurations of the actual writing surface will readily sug est themselves in accordance with the scope and spirit of the invention.

A pen of the type according to the invention is use in connection with a suitable lettering or other guide forquickly producing letters. numbers, or any other designs, as is readily understood. v

In order to prevent leaking of the writing fluid in the non-use position of the pen, or to enable the pen to be placed in any position when not in use. a protective cap 28 of rubber, Bakelite or the writing fluid in said barrel to be absorbed thereby sorbed thereby and like, is placed over the tip l2 to be held in place and drawing are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense.

I claim: l. A marking pen comprising a barrel, and'a concentric porous member of ceramic material removably and liquid-tightly secured in said barrel and having a portion located inside said barrel and another portion forming a tapering writing tip projecting outwardly from said barrel, said' member having a porosity whereby to cause a and fed by capillary action to said tip.

2. A marking pen comprising a barrel, 9. rodshaped porous member of ceramic material removablyand liquid-tightly secured in said barrel and having a portion located inside said barrel and another portion forming an outwardly tapering writing tip and projecting concentrically from one end of said barrel, said member having a porosity whereby to cause a writing fluid in saidbarrel to be absorbed thereby and fed by capillary action to said tip, and a fluid-impervious coating upon a portion of said tip to conflne the discharge of writing fluid to a. limited area at the outer end thereof.

3. A marking penvcomprising a barrel, a rodshaped porous member of ceramic material liquid-tightly screwed in one end of saidbarrel and .having a portion projecting into said barrel and another portion forming an outwardly tapering. writing tip projecting concentrically from said barrel, said member having a'porosity whereby to cause a writing fluid in said barrel to be abfed by capillary action to said tip.

4. A marking pen consisting of a barrel-shaped member of porous material having an integral concentric extension forming a writing tip and projecting outwardly from said barrel, said memher having a porosity whereby to cause a writing fluid therein to be absorbed and fed by capillary action to said tip, and a fluid-impervious coating upon said barrel and a portion of said tip to confine the discharge of writing fluid to a limited area at the outer end of said tip.

5. A marking pen consisting of a barrel-shaped member of porous material having an integral concentric extension forming an outwardly tapering writing tip projecting from one end of said barrel and terminating in a substantially flat writing .surface of predetermined configuration, said member having a porosity whereby to cause a writing fluid'therein to be absorbed and fed by capillary action to said tip, anda fluid-impervious coating upon said barrel and a portion of said tip to confine the discharge of writing fluid to a limited area at the outer end of said tip.

6. In a marking pen consisting of a barrelshaped member of porous ceramic material havportion of said tip to conflne the fluid discharge to a limited area at the outer end of said tip.

7. In a marking pen consisting of a barrelshaped member of porous ceramic material having an integral concentric extension forming a writing tip, said member having aporosity whereby to cause a writing fluid therein to be absorbed and fed to said tip by capillary action, said member and a portion of said tip having a glazed outer surface to confine the fluid discharge to the area at the outer end of said tip.

8. A marking pen comprising a barrel and a concentric member of porous ceramic material extending from the inside to the outside of said barrel and terminating in a writing tip, said member having a porosity whereby to cause a writing fluid in said barrel to be absorbed thereby and fed by capillary action to said tip.

' KARL RATI-I. 

